Storm over a cup of tea
Tea is known famously as “the cup that cheers, but not inebriate”, and it’s been commonly consumed for over 3,000 years. India may be late in planning to give it “national” status from 2013, the 212th birth anniversary of first indigenous tea planter and freedom fighter Maniram Dewan. Nutritionists say it’s a “storm in a teacup”, claiming excessive consumption is harmful to health because of its three per cent-plus caffeine content.
The Chinese may take offence as they first discovered its health benefits given the presence of flavanols, flavonoids and polyphenols, besides catechins in green tea that are believed to be anti-carcinogenic. The Japanese may not be happy either: they have made such a fine art of the simple process of drinking the aromatic beverage brewed by pouring hot water on camellia sinensis leaves.
India, too, has an ancient proprietary claim as the tea plant probably originated at the confluence of India’s northeast, northern Burma and southwest China. Its place in history is so widely accepted that Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s attempt to give it an anti-colonial flavour appears a little outlandish. The British, after all, made such a science of tea plantations that the very mention of Assam, Darjeeling and Nilgiris already brings forth images of the calm but alert and focused state of mind, almost meditative, that drinking tea brings forth. It’s best to settle the argument by saying: call it what you will, but bring out the kettle and let’s brew a nice cuppa!
Post new comment